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Why did Ohio State football switch starting punter in season-opening win over Akron?
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- Why did Ohio State football switch starting punter in season-opening win over Akron?
Ohio State started Joe McGuire as its punter instead of Nick McLarty in a 52-6 season-opening win over Akron on Saturday.
A week earlier, the Buckeyes had planned to start McLarty, a strong-legged 6-foot-7 freshman from Australia.
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But coach Ryan Day said McGuire outperformed McLarty during the final practices leading up to the opener.
Joe McGuire (42) punted three times for an average of 45 yards against Akron on Saturday.
"It was significant," Day said, "and we felt like Joe's experience in the program, being here for a year, was better."
Day added, "Joe right now is a little more consistent."
McGuire, a fellow Australian who joined the Buckeyes as a walk-on last year, punted three times for an average of 45 yards against the Zips . His longest went for 51 yards late in the second quarter.
Aug 31, 2024; Columbus, OH, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes punter Nick McLarty (19) and punter Joe McGuire (42) stand on the sideline behind head coach Ryan Day during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State won 52-6.
Though McLarty did not punt, he was close to making an appearance in the fourth quarter, a substitution Day said he regretted not making in the final minutes.
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"In hindsight, probably could've done that and should've done that," Day said.
Day intimated that the two of them would continue to compete in the weeks ahead to handle punting duties.
He said he was hopeful to use McLarty, who went viral for punting the ball 90 yards last year.
"If Nick can continue to grow and build and learn," he said, "we'll get him in there, because he does have a lot of potential and a big leg."
Jesse Mirco was the Buckeyes' starting punter last season before he transferred to Vanderbilt in January for his final season of eligibility.
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Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @joeyrkaufman or email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com .
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football starts Joe McGuire as punter against Akron
